As Egypt continues to struggle with political turmoil, particularly in the Sinai, the Coptic Orthodox Church celebrates Christmas on 7 January. Parliamentary elections offer hope for a new political landscape and the possibility of a better future for Egypt’s religious minorities, which have suffered waves of harassment and persecution in the instability of recent years.

This week please:

• Pray for a peaceful Christmas for Egypt’s 10 million Copts, the largest Christian community in the Middle East;
• Ask God to protect, bless and grant wisdom to Pope Tawadros of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Patriarch Sidrak of the Coptic Catholic Church, Bishop Mooneer of the Anglican Church, Pastor Sameh Maurice of Kasr el Dobara Evangelical Church and other church leaders;
• Thank God for the work of Bishop Angaelos, who leads the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre in the UK;
• Pray that the newly elected parliament would uphold the Egyptian constitution and secure equal citizenship and freedom of religion or belief for all;
• Pray that justice will finally be done for the victims of the attack on the church in Alexandria in 2010;
• Ask God to grant wisdom to CSW’s advocacy officers as they respond to the changing landscape in Egypt;
• Thank God for Egypt’s long history, and pray that Christians and other religious minorities would be able to live in freedom and peace.